Scientists seek proof of N. Cascades grizzlies

Reported sightings in the Cascades of Washington State lead to funding to search for grizzlies.

There have been reported sightings of grizzly bears for many years in the Cascades of Washington but very little has been confirmed. As the article states, grizzly bears don’t usually disperse long distances like wolves do so colonizing new areas takes longer for them. Another reason for slow recovery for grizzlies is that they reproduce at a much slower rate than wolves and they have a fairly high human caused mortality rate.

Grizzlies here, as in other parts of the lower 48 have full protection under the Endangered Species Act.

6 Responses to Scientists seek proof of N. Cascades grizzlies

There is some great bear habitat between I 90 & the Canadian border. But what about Canada, is there viable bear habitat to the north? From looking at a map of BC, it doesn’t look all that good with major highways and towns.

There are many challenges for bears in the Canadian side of this recovery zone from human development aside from settlement there are major transportation corridors including railways, major timber harvest and mining with associated access roads, energy transmission corridors both hydroelectric and gas, livestock, and black bear hunting increasing the prevelance of accidental griz killing. With all that and a pro-natural resource industry government it is no wonder the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection shelved the augmentation plan for the Canadian Cascades within their recovery plan much like the US shelved its plan for the Bitterroots.

I’m detecting a hint of sarcasm. While it is hopeful that at least something is being done it is frustrating the pace at which recovery efforts are taking place for bears here considering what is at stake. To steal a quote of a quote form Knibbs “Grizzly Wars” of British Columbian Regional Wildlife Biologist Bob Forbes,”We are working on a tight deadline in the Cascades,” he says. “Without transplants, that population will wink out. They’ll die out within my lifetime. We are obligated to recognize and redress this problem. This is not rocket science – you either do something or they’re going to go.”

Grizzly bears all over Washington State would be my preference. I just got back in from documenting some winter litter . . on a five mile road there were 47 fresh drink cans that were not there last fall, a glass table, a half burned fire about 10 feet in diameter with a burned couch and household trash next to what looked like either a hunt camp or a snowmobile camp. There were plastic bags in the trees, and an uncovered latrine. My last survey of that road was on October 7th. None of it was there. Grizzly bears seem to cut down on people littering as they fear for their lives. . . even though statistically a grizzly bear population doesn’t mean death. Threat of death seems to be the only way people will pay attention to their environment.

i think having the big bears would be great, it would help give washington more of its native feel back! even though there have been a few accidents with the bears, its somewhat our falt we took over their land and pushed them out and hunted them till they were almost gone and now we want to make it all better by thinking about re-introoducing them to their old homes… humans are such bullies!!! we should just leave some stuff untouched…

Calendar

Quote

‎"At some point we must draw a line across the ground of our home and our being, drive a spear into the land and say to the bulldozers, earthmovers, government and corporations, “thus far and no further.” If we do not, we shall later feel, instead of pride, the regret of Thoreau, that good but overly-bookish man, who wrote, near the end of his life, “If I repent of anything it is likely to be my good behaviour."